ASAP Rocky’s jury in his firearms trial has been selected, and much to his dismay, there are no Black jurors.
Defense attorneys voiced frustration about the underrepresentation of Black candidates, noting that less than 5% of the jury pool is Black, despite the area being 9% African American.
“We’re troubled by that, to say the least,” said defense lawyer Joe Tacopina. “We’re in downtown Los Angeles, not a small town in Montana.”
The judge declined to pause the trial for an appeal, pushing forward with jury selection, which began Tuesday.
Ultimately, seven women and five men were chosen for the jury, though none were Black. Reverend Al Sharpton previously advocated for Rocky, voicing that he may be judged unfairly at trial because of the lack of diversity within the jury pool.
The New York rapper, who rejected a plea deal offering 180 days in jail, is charged with firing a semiautomatic firearm at former friend Terell Ephron in November 2021. Ephron testified that bullets grazed his knuckles during the incident. Rocky, free on bail, has pleaded not guilty. The trial’s outcome could derail his burgeoning career, including upcoming roles in a Spike Lee film and as a Met Gala co-chair, while he faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence.
